folk songs

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Folk songs are literally songs of the "folk:" the indigenous people of a region. Folk songs may be traditional, originating in a distant place (or time) and adapted, revised and renewed through something called the "folk process." Many American folk songs originate in the British Isles, or even northern Europe, brought over by generations of immigrants.
 
In the 1950s and 1960s American folk songs were brought into the mainstream of American music by popular folk singers and bands like Pete Seeger, The Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez. These musicians continued the folk process and the tradition of folk-music as political commentary, a American tradition going back to the time when "Yankee Doodle" became a popular protest song in the days of British rule of the American colonies.

Not all folk songs are of ancient origin; folk singers like Seeger (Turn, Turn, Turn), Woody Guthrie ("This Land is Your Land") and others wrote original songs that have, over the course of the last 50 years endured and have, themselves, been adapated. And now properly labeled "folk songs."

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “folk songs”

  • Community radio set up by rural women in Gujarat


    Thaindian NewsAuthority Authority: 726
    Ahmedabad, Dec. 2 (ANI): A radio station, set up by a group of women in Manipur village of Ahmedabad district to cater to the needs of the rural women, has gained huge popularity.Aided by SEWA, a self help group, the Rudi-No-Radio is managed and run exclusively by women.Establised five year ago, the now boasts of [...]
    1 day ago
  • AfriClassical.com Profiles Julio Racine (b. 1945), Haitian Composer, Arranger & Flutist


    AfriClassicalAuthority Authority: 137
    [ Belle Ayiti: Mizik Savant Ayisyen (Beautiful Haiti: Haitian Classical Music); Tangente au Yanvalou; Sonate Vodou Jazz ; Haitian Folk Songs ; Zanmi Ansanm Mizik Ayisyen (Friends Together For Haitian Music). Cover Art: Painting by Haitian artist Ernst Toussaint. (75:29)] AfriClassical.com is pleased ...
    1 week ago
  • Tiny Ruins


    Eardrums MusicAuthority Authority: 410
    Photo by Lennart Maschmeyer. On rare occations, I discover music that is so right for me , – music that touches strings deep inside, and makes all my senses and feelings wake up. Tiny Ruins from New Zealand plays this kind of music. It was a  friend of mine who asked me to check out Tiny Ruins ‘ music ...
    1 week ago
  • We Now Have 100 Languages on Mama Lisa’s World!


    Mama Lisa's World BlogAuthority Authority: 127
    This week we added two languages to Mama Lisa’s World of International Songs , bringing us up to a hundred languages on the site! We added a song from West Sumatra in Indonesia where they speak Minangkabau. We also added a Frisian Lullaby in the West Frisian language. The Frisian language is the closest ...
    2 weeks ago
  • Does Anyone Know a Song with the Line, “The Ship Sailed for the White Cliffs of Dover”?


    Mama Lisa's World BlogAuthority Authority: 127
    Dan wrote, I went to school in Chilton (England) when I was six (1972), in California now, and my class sang this song, but that is the only line I can recall, I even recall the melody… “And when the journey was all over / The ship sailed for the / White Cliffs of Dover.” Anybody? Was it maybe a song about ...
    2 weeks ago
  • Learning Guitars, Listening to the Greats


    DesertFishing...Authority Authority: 120
    What music genre relaxes you? Mine is classic folk songs, even if Dan Fogelberg’s Leader of the Band guitar score is one i can only imitate imperfectly. I’ve watched Fogelberg’s solo on Youtube and the rendition is a soulspeak with his husky voice, the string’s simple and distinct variation, and the ...
    2 weeks ago
  • Under Covers 8: Classic Country Covers


    OurStage BlogAuthority Authority: 436
    As is the nature of the genre, country music tend to present us with universal themes that live much longer than their creators. Two such examples are “Ring of Fire” popularized by Johnny Cash (originally written by June Carter ) and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” performed by Hank Williams . Cash and ...
    2 weeks ago
  • President Patil encourages children to lead India


    Thaindian NewsAuthority Authority: 726
    New Delhi, Nov. 14 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil met children at her official residence in New Delhi on Saturday on the occasion of the 120th birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.Patil encouraged the children to lead the nation and make it proud.“These children have to do a lot of ...
    2 weeks ago
  • President Patil encourages children to lead India


    Thaindian NewsAuthority Authority: 726
    New Delhi, Nov. 14 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil met children at her official residence in New Delhi on Saturday on the occasion of the 120th birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.Patil encouraged the children to lead the nation and make it proud.“These children have to do a lot of ...
    2 weeks ago
  • And I fall in Love with 17 hippies


    Qwaider PlanetAuthority Authority: 171
    Have you ever heard a tone and just by hearing it, it made you smile.. made your soul smiles? have you ever seen a smile that made your smile go even wider and warmer? Have you ever been to a gig and never Read More......( read more )
    3 weeks ago
  • Pete Seeger and The Advent Of This Land Is Your Land On My Life


    Amber Benson's Official BlogAuthority Authority: 108
    Literally, one of my earliest memories is of my dad sitting at our dining room table, a yolk-colored classical guitar sitting on his knee as he played and sang, This Land Is Your Land. My dad has a beautiful alto voice, high and reedy – and even though he doesnt play and sing very much anymore, when he does, he ...
    3 weeks ago
  • A Great Lakes Balladeer


    Great Lakes GazetteAuthority Authority: 124
    The ore carrier Saginaw carries on a tradition worth singing about Musician, historian, continental glaciologist. Folk-singer Lee Murdock, geology degree in one hand and guitar in the other, preserves and performs songs of the Great Lakes—the bodies of water created by the glaciers he studied in college. He ...
    3 weeks ago
  • Indian Songs – Songs That Are Both Filled With Tradition.


    Your Online Security Authority BlogAuthority Authority: 488
    Diversity is the keyword to describe India and its fascinating culture, national blend and exoticism. Although it may seem like you can make an opinion of what Indian songs are like by listening to the many folk creations, you can always be surprised by a new rhythm. As part of a very complex culture, Indian ...
    4 weeks ago
  • Give Up The Ghost by Brandi Carlile Review


    Eccentric Eclectic WomanAuthority Authority: 119
    ABOUT BRANDI CARLILE: Born in the small town of Ravensdale, WA Brandi Carlile grew up listening to the classic country music her parents loved (Patsy Cline remains Carliles favorite singer). She made her first stage appearance at the age of 8 after she was taken to a local country radio show by her mother. At 17 ...
    4 weeks ago
  • October Mailbag: What Did Beyonce Think After Kenya Interrupted The Awards?


    The 9513Authority Authority: 432
    What did Beyonce think after Kenya interrupted the awards? She figured the country’s government must still be bitter that Taylor Swift is only bringing her tour to the West coast of Africa. — Karlie What subgenre is Taylor Swift? Moody electropunk jazzbilly thrash metal with operatic overtones. Or just ...
    5 weeks ago
  • Neil Young - A Man Needs A Maid


    Unreality Shout - MusicAuthority Authority: 120
    Theres nothing topical about A Man Needs A Maid . In fact, its an old Neil Young song from his Harvest album in 1972. But since when did we have to focus exclusively on chart acts? I fell in love with the Harvest album during the summer, its one of those timeless albums that just touches you deep down. ...
    5 weeks ago
  • There was an Old Woman All Skin and Bones – A Hallowe’en Song and Video


    Mama Lisa's World BlogAuthority Authority: 127
    I’ve posted several versions of this great Halloween song in the past… It’s called There Was an Old Woman All Skin and Bones . Here’s yet another version below from Matt Vaughan and his friend Pam. They explain how to make it spookier for Halloween! Here are the chords from Matt… Am – Dm Am / Am Dm Am ...
    5 weeks ago
  • Millions in Bihar pray to setting sun on Chhath (Lead)


    Thaindian NewsAuthority Authority: 726
    Patna, Oct 24 (IANS) Millions of people across Bihar, mostly women, marked the festival of Chhath Saturday by fasting, singing traditional songs and praying to the setting sun.Devotees, attired in new clothes, sang folk songs as they prayed to the sun god and set lit earthen lamps afloat on rivers, lakes and other ...
    5 weeks ago

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